Eurocamp wisdom, please!

[GlitteringCBeams]

As a family of four (two adults and two DC, currently three and six) we’ve been going on all-inclusive holidays for the last few years - I’ve been of the frame of mind that, on holiday, I don’t want to cook, clean, worry about the extra cost of eating out and having a couple of drinks, I want kids clubs and waterslides etc.

However, we’re now spending a crazy amount of money as our favourite destinations seem to have rocketed in price. Next year I’m thinking of trying a different tactic, and am being bombarded with eurocamp videos on social media. It looks great! However, I have zero experience of this type of holiday so I’d love some advice from seasoned eurocampers.

Where would you all recommend? I’m assuming all-inclusive won’t be an option, but ideally we’d be on a beach, there would be a great pool with waterslides, there would be a kids club and lots to do. We’d likely go for two weeks in July/August (school hols) and wouldn’t be picky about destination as long as we’re likely to have decent sunny weather (as far as these things can be predicted!)

We’ve done Eurocamps a few times, especially when our DCs were small. They really worked for us and there are loads of parcs to chose from. I would definitely recommend for the pools, locations and some have kids clubs too. But at peak season the most popular parcs are becoming very expensive. There’s a few lovely ones right on the beach in Croatia. We also went to Lake Garda and loved that too.

We’ve done AI once and I actually prefer self catering I think because you have your own outdoor deck, a bbq, relaxed breakfasts and lunches and then you can go out for dinner or get a takeaway.

You do need to either book a linen package though or take your own and I’d recommend going for the premium cabins if you possibly can!

We love eurocamp for holidays. Mine are only a little older than yours and we've just loved Bella Italia, vilanova park, bekse bergen and we're about to try bi village. Have a browse of the website. You can filter by waterparks amongst other criterion. They also have specific car free page if you would rather fly.

Love a Eurocamp! Think with kids it’s so nice to have the covered deck, separate bedrooms etc.

It’s not all inclusive, but if you don’t want to cook, you don’t really have to. We love a breakfast run in the morning to pick up freshly baked croissants and bread, which we eat with cheese, fruit etc.

We almost always eat out for either lunch or dinner, or both.

The advice to get the best cabin you can afford is good, if you want nicer accommodation.

But like previous PP has said, the most popular sites can be very expensive at peak time - and it’s dynamic pricing. We’ve paid almost £400 a night at one Eurocamp (it was luckily only a small part of a longer trip) and we’ve paid £600 for an ultimate plus cabin for five nights. Both brilliant sites! But it’s not always the cheap holiday some people expect.

I love the freedom, pools, slides, activities - I think it’s a more active sort of holiday!

Oh wow so we might not actually save much money then! Hmm.

Thank you for your responses - lots to think about. I love that there’s one in Lake Garda - I’ve never been, so that appeals.

As for not cooking if you don’t want to - is food and drink generally quite expensive on-site?

You don't have to book through Eurocamp. There are many other companies operating from the same sites or you can book directly with the campsite yourself.

It's been a few years since we went to this campsite near Venice but it was brilliant. We enjoyed the pools but also hired bikes so that we could explore other areas and get the water ferry.

I never cook on holiday. We have pastries and fruit from the campsite shop for breakfast, and eat out for either lunch or dinner, with salad and cold meats/cheese for another meal. Some campsites have visiting takeaway food trucks too.

www.marinadivenezia.it/en.html

Where in the UK are you coming from? My ferry Ireland to Spain inc cabin and food passes is around £3k for 5 people. But if you're coming from mainland GB you could get a cheaper ferry, and bring bed linen (although EC includes this for the more premium accommodation), save on hire car/ car seats and bring home wine. Most of the EC you need a car for, and the ones you don't are easier and cheaper with a car (because you can drive to a cheaper supermarket.)

The choice is overwhelming but if you really want good waterslides then that helps narrow it down a lot.